Children: 5 Rules For A Good Use Of The Tablet
Every year, touchscreen tablets are a big part of Santa's gift basket. If your child has asked for and received this type of gift, it's up to you to help them make good use of it. We've listed 5 rules you need to know to help kids get the most out of their tablets... without abusing them!
1- Apply the 3-6-9-12 rule
Faced with the proliferation of screens in our daily lives, psychiatrist Serge Tisseron has come up with a rule to help parents frame screen use.
He named it the 3-6-9-12 rule in reference to the age of children.
The principle is simple and can be summed up in 4 points:
=> no television before age 3
=> no personal console before 6 years old
=> no surfing on the Internet before 9 years old
=> no social networking before 12 years old
2- Choose an age-appropriate model
Before the age of 6, a 'toy' tablet is enough to satisfy a child's curiosity.
Even if he wants to do 'like the big kids', this type of multimedia tablet is better suited to his age because it is much more robust than a 'real'.
These models, which also have the advantage of being less expensive, are no less interesting.
They offer many playful or educational activities and some are even equipped with a camera to do like mom and dad.
For those over 6 years old, there are more elaborate tablets but still adapted to children, in terms of robustness and ergonomics.
The advantage of these junior tablets is that they can be upgraded: it is possible to connect them to the Internet and enrich their content as your child's tastes and abilities evolve.
The offers are multiple and the most difficult thing for parents is to find their way among the many existing models...
3- Focus on educational applications
Proponents of children's tablets point to the educational value of this equipment.
However, it must be emphasized that all the educational value of a tablet lies in its content.
According to early childhood specialists, passively absorbing a stream of images has no interest in the development of the child.
It can even deteriorate his faculties of concentration and learning: this is why it is not recommended to expose children under 3 years to television screens.
To promote cognitive awareness in children from an early age, you should instead offer them interactive content.
It is therefore essential to choose applications that require active participation from the child and that appeal to their thinking, creativity or sense of observation.
The activities offered should also match his abilities.
4- Get information on specialized sites
Of course, it is not always easy for parents to choose the activities that are best suited to their children's ages and tastes.
This is why it is advisable to consult specialized forums and sites on the Internet.
For example, you can take a tour of the Super-Julie site created by a former teacher (see the link at the bottom of the page).
This site, coupled with a free app downloadable from App Store, helps parents find the best apps for their child's age and preferences.
After finding inspiration and a wealth of advice, all you have to do is test the app before offering it to your son/daughter.
5- Limit the duration of use
However, regardless of the educational value of an activity, remember that too much exposure to screens is harmful to your children's health and development.
To avoid problems such as isolation, screen addiction and sleep disturbances, it is crucial to set limits and maximum usage times.
Again, this depends on the age of the child. The maximum recommended duration is :
=> 10 minutes for children under 3 years old
=> 20 minutes for 3-6 years old
=> 30 minutes for 6-12 years old
Don't deviate from this rule and remember that the best way to enforce it is to set a good example.
So, to get your child to let go of their tablet, start by letting go of your smartphone as well and suggest they play a board game or go To let off steam outdoors!
It's up to parents to remind them, by example, that there are other ways to have fun and relax.
An official website to learn more
In France, more than 6 out of 10 parents take measures to ban or limit the use of screens. Despite parental control tools, 42% of parents are concerned about the risk of exposing their children to potentially offensive content.
In February 2023, the government is launching a digital parenting awareness campaign. The objectives of this campaign are to remind parents of the recommendations of the High Council for Public Health (HCSP) and to publicize the official website jeprotegemonenfant.gouv.fr.
This platform was launched in 2021, in accordance with the 'commitment protocol for the prevention of the exposure of minors to pornographic content online'. It aims to offer reliable information for a reasoned use of screens, through numerous tools, tips and resources.
To learn more about the proper use of screens within the family, we invite you to visit this site (link below).
